Related Online Exclusives

Every October, beauty companies roll out specialty products in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Month. The health campaign’s symbol, the pink ribbon, often adorns packaging, while funds are donated to an assortment of foundations that assist women worldwide.

If detected early, breast cancer is most likely treatable. So, what better way to spread the word than through limited edition items by way of skin care, hair care or color cosmetics?

Skin Care Specials

The Avon Foundation for Women is a leader in Breast Cancer Awareness. Through the sale of fundraising products alone, more than $89 million has been raised since 1992, according to the company, and all fundraising initiatives worldwide have exceeded $585 million raised and donated in 55 countries.

New for 2009 is Avon’s Breast Cancer Crusade Moisturizing Bar Soap ($4), a moisturizing glycerin-based formulation for face and body with a refreshing grapefruit scent.

This season, Aveda is raising funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) with the launch of a limited edition Hand Relief crème ($21) in honor of the cause. The SKU has been a top seller since its launch in 1998. The limited edition Hand Relief is specially packaged in a 150ml/5oz tube—a 19% increase in size with a 7% savings—and features a limited edition pink ribbon design.

For the third year in a row, OPI has joined the fight against breast cancer.

Throughout October, Aveda will donate $4 from the sale of each BCA Hand Relief to the BCRF. This year, Aveda’s fundraising goal is $300,000—which will be achieved if every limited edition pink-capped Hand Relief is sold. Through the end of Septemer, Aveda has donated more than $900,000 to BCRF through the sale of BCA Hand Relief. In 2008, Estée Lauder raised more than $5 million for BCRF. Due to the support of BCRF partners like Aveda, an expanded Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York will open for patients in late 2009.

Botanical beauty brand Yves Rocher is launching a limited edition SKU of its North American best-seller, Arnica Essential Daily Moisturizing Hand Cream ($5) in an effort to raise funds for the Look Good...Feel Better program, which helps women cope with the appearance-related changes caused by cancer treatment. For every hand cream sold, $2 will be donated to this national public service program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Ooohlala of Beverly Hills, a luxury bath products company, is putting every woman’s “must-haves” to a good cause.This month, the company will support BCA Month by donating 20% of proceeds from each sale of its Sooo Pink! Shea Beauty Bombs ($20) to the fight against breast cancer.

“I am a strong believer that women need to take time out for themselves and focus on their own well-being,” says Tracy Worthington, founder of Ooohlala of Beverly Hills.“If we as a company are able to persuade even one woman to make a commitment to her physical health, then we will have helped make a huge difference.”

Another personal care marketer, Paula’s Choice, is donating 10% of sales from its 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid ($18.95) to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.As with all Paula’s Choice products, the 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid is 100% fragrance- and colorant-free and contains no alcohol or plant extracts that could irritate the skin.

Hair Care Helpers

In October, Joico joins the fight against breast cancer with its new, limited edition KPAK Breast Cancer Awareness Gift Set ($30). A percentage of proceeds will be donated to City of Hope to support breast cancer research and awareness.

Pravana is donating 100% of its profit from its “Think Pink” bag promotion for Pure Light Shampoo and Conditioner ($28) to the Susan G. Komen for The Cure Foundation. Another brand just for tresses, Badass Hair, will honor BCA Month by donating 25% of proceeds from each sale of its Badass Hair Silky Sweet Shampoo & Silky Sweet Conditioner Travel Set ($15) to the fight against breast cancer. The shampoo uses essential nutrients to restore PH for smooth and shiny hair; while the paraben- and sulfate-free conditioner energizes weak and moisture-starved hair, said the company.

Colors for the Cure

For a third year, OPI has created a Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer especially to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure.The 2009 edition of Pink of Hearts ($8) will follow in the footsteps of its namesake 2007 and 2008 Nail Lacquers in raising awareness of breast cancer during October. In 2009, OPI will be making a donation of $25,000 to Komen for the Cure. The Pink of Hearts 2009 Edition is a pretty light pink, and each bottle has a special pink-ribbon cap wrap in support of BCA.

Joico's KPAK Breast Cancer Awareness Gift Set ($30).

“The fight against breast cancer continues, as does the unrelenting commitment of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help find the cures,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI executive vice president and artistic director. “OPI is proud to join with Komen for a third year, with Pink of Hearts 2009.It is OPI’s way to support the effort to end this disease, to honor those affected by it, and to give all women the power to help make a difference.”

Minerals brand Jane Iredale will continue its partnership with Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and improving the lives of women living with breast cancer, with a new lipstick shade specifically to support the cause.

Christina PureMoist LipColour ($19) is a universally flattering pink shade packaged in a bright pink tube and named in honor of actress and breast cancer survivor, Christina Applegate.With each lipstick sold, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics will donate $2 to LBBC with a minimum donation of $25,000 in 2009.

In addition, the brand will also be bringing back last year’s top-selling In The Pink PureGloss for Lips ($19), a translucent, shimmering pink shade perfect for everyday wear. LBBC will also receive $2 from the sale of each In The Pink.

“Coming off of last year’s success with In The Pink, I am proud to continue to support an organization like Living Beyond Breast Cancer,” says Jane Iredale, founder and president of Iredale Mineral Cosmetics.“It has always been my mission to provide women with a line of cosmetics that make them feel beautiful and enhance their health. Working together, we can give all women living with breast cancer hope and a bright future.”

Mirabella Beauty also makes it easy for salons and spas to support the research, treatment and education for breast cancer with the launch of Hope Lip Color ($22). The company will donate $1 from every tube sold between June 1 and October 31 to City of Hope, a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

“We created Hope, the perfect shade of pink lipstick that looks gorgeous on everyone, as a tribute to the work done by City of Hope in research, education and treatment of breast cancer,” explains Adrienne Kramer, president of Mirabella Beauty. “We’re running it through the end of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to give salons and spas a gorgeous new product that helps their clients feel beautiful about looking beautiful.”

For the second year in a row, glōProfessional—another mineral makeup, skin care and spa brand dedicated to the professional and consumer markets—will introduce a new glōMarvelous in Pink limited-edition 2009 kit ($32), making a charitable commitment to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).

Created exclusively to help the NBCF, the new glōMarvelous in Pink kit includes a glōLiquid lips in Pink Ginger—a perfect pink high-shine gloss, and glōBronze kiss—a unique bronzer and highlighter in one that gives the face a natural, even glow.Stylized packaging for the limited-edition 2009 set will feature the iconic pink ribbon, the NFBC logo and web address and information about this charitable commitment.

Created to promote breast cancer awareness and research, Borba Lip Tints’ sheer, ready-to-wear shade Lovely ($16) beautifies while celebrating the gift of giving. According to the company, 10% of net proceeds from the sale will benefit the BCRF.

Another BCA lip product is from Purple Lab. The company has joined forces with the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation to create Sealed with a Cure ($18.50), a lipgloss that will benefit the foundation through raising funds and awareness for Triple Negative Breast Cancer, a subtype of breast cancer.The product launches for BCA Month and will continue until sell-through

“While there is no magic wand to wave this disease away, hopefully this gloss will help the advancement of research for Triple Negative Breast Cancer, a recently recognized and aggressive form of breast cancer that affects younger women,” says Karen Robinovitz, Purple Lab creator. “Purple Lab is proud to support the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation’s efforts and create a gloss that is all about wellness and that also allows women—should they be going through chemo—to keep up their sense of glamour and femininity while they fight an illness that, at its core, attacks the very part of our bodies that is so feminine.”

Created in memory of Nancy Block-Zenna—the TNBC Foundation’s inspiration and driving force—SWAC is a feel-good lipgloss formulated with immune system-enhancing mangosteen, health-boosting echinacea and the uplifting scent of vanilla—a natural anti-depressant.Infused with vitamins C and E, SWAC is ideal for lips dehydrated from everything from the elements to chemotherapy, and it will never have that sticky, tacky feeling. Now that’s beautiful!